Improvement in backs of sofas and chairs



J. H. TRAVIS. Backs of Sofas and Chairs.

No. 213,012 Patented Mar. 4,1879. 1

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IINI'IEI) STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH II. TRAVIS, OF- NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO FRANK RHONER, OF SAME PLACE. V I

IMPROVEMENT IN. BACKS OF SOFAS A ND CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,012, dated March 4, 1879; application filed January 10, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH H. TRAVIS, of New York city, in the county of New York and'State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Backs of Sofas and Chairs, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to an improvement in the backs of chairs and sofas; and its object is to strengthen the back and afford a firm support and division between the back-cushion and head-cushion in that class of chair and sofa backs which have their cushions divided into upper and lower sections.

It consists in arranging between the upper and lower cushion-sections of a chair or sofa back a strip or bar of wood having its front surface approximately flush with the surface of said cushion-sections, and .its ends supported by the back-frame.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a chair constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section, and Fig. 4 is a front view of a sofa constructed according to my invention.

The letterAindicates the frame of the chairback, and B is a bar of wood arranged transversely across the frame between the side bars, and projecting in front thereof nearly or quite flush with the cushion-line. The front and end surfaces, or either, of this bar may be ornamented with gilding or painting in ornamental designs, and of colors to harmonize or contrast with the colors of the fabrics used for the upholstery of the cushions; and said bar may have a rabbet along each front edge for the attachment of the cushions.

The letter Gindicates the top cushion, which, in the present instance, is ahead-cushion but the wooden bar may, if desired, be arranged lower down than shown, and the top section of the back may then be a shoulder-cushion, the bar being arranged to coincide with the inwardly-curved portion or small of the back of a person. i

The bar B forms an efficient foundation and support for the lower edge of this top cushion, which can on this account be constructed to protrude in front of the side bars of the backframe to a greater extent than hitherto, and forms a more comfortable support for the head or shoulders.

The letter D designates the lower section of the back-cushion, and its upper edge abuts against the lower edge of the bar B, and is thereby protected.

The edges of the top and bottom sections of the cushions adjacent to the bar B may be borderedwith any suitable cord or braid, which may, if desired, be attached to said bar, or be attached directly to the cushions.

It has been desirable to divide the backs of sofas and chairs into two sections, and cover them with fabricsof different colors for the sake of ornamental appearance; and in thus dividingsaid backs,in orderto give each section a neat finish, it has been found advantageous to form the two sect-ions as separate cushion-sections, each complete in itself; but the dividing crease between these sections has hitherto been more or less unsightly, and, owing to the tendency of cushions to become pressed outof shape, it has, after a little use, failed to make a straight and distinct division between the two sections. This difficulty my invention has overcome.

In chairs and sofas it has been a custom to arrange a bar of wood between the two divisions of the cushion or upholstery, for the purpose of securing strength and affording a medium for connecting the cushions; but it is found in practice that the cushions will be mashed down or will sag, and not only partially cover the bar, and thus detract from the beauty of the chair, but there is also formed by such saggingareceptacle for a great amount of dust, which, on account of the peculiar formation, is very difficult to remove. I remedy these defects by inserting between the side rails, between thetwo divisions of the cushions,

a bar or rail of such size and proportions as to not only act as a brace to the back, but also to project forward in advance of the side bars of the back to a line substantially flush with the front of the cushions and afford a basis for the attachment of such cushions. When the chair is in use the cushions will be compressedby the weight of the person, so that their surfaces will be upon or near the exact line of the front of the bar, and the whole will form, in effect, a continuous back. By this means the beauty of the bar will always be apparent, and the whole chair-back strengthened and improved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- A chair or sofa back having upper and lower cushion sections separated by a transverse bar of wood arranged between the side posts of the back frame and projecting forward in front of said side posts, so that its front surface is approximately flush with the front surfaces of the uncompressed cushions, whereby said bar is prevented from sagging, and the adjacent edges of the cushions are prevented from bulging toward each other and concealing the said bar, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

J. n. TRAVIS.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. 00X, A. G. MooDY. 

